Mighty Kings, My Two Kings (Bleach Fanfiction)

Chapter 7: Please, Not Him

Oh the road is long and winding,

But I will keep my sanity,

For thy love that keeps reminding,

That you are waiting home for me.

The humming of a light but sorrowful tune trailed behind Ichigo as he held tightly to the reins. The music was accompanied by the clip clopping of horses’ hooves as he traversed through the empty road ahead, leading Maxima to her destination. The song on Maxima’s lips may have been a love song, but to Ichigo it was almost mournful. 

Oh the road may be weary,

But it will lead me back

To the place where my heart longs to be,

Ichigo could hear Maxima trotting up beside him as her singing became more prominent. Her voice was pure and gentle but Ichigo hated comparing it to that of an angel. Maxima’s voice would bring angels to shame.

But he wanted her to stop. Not because it was unpleasant, but because now was not the time for singing, no matter how suitable the song was at that moment. The road indeed was long and winding and it was nothing short of weary. For the past few hours, they had been completely surrounded by rock as they made their way through a road known as the Severed Road.

The Severed Road was like a never-ending tunnel of stone where one loses track of time. Whether it was morning or night, dusk or dawn, neither Ichigo nor Maxima could be sure. Ichigo had given up trying to keep track after having to refill the oil lamp for the umpteenth time so he was terribly uneasy. The Severed Road was certainly the road less travelled, even if it was the fastest route to the Middle and North districts. It could easily turn a journey that was meant to be two days long into one that takes no more than half of that. This was without the magic.

It was always said that there was a guardian on the road that had control over time and space, meaning that a day’s voyage could be reduced to a couple of hours. But you were always alone. No matter how many travelling groups are on the road at one time, you will never see anyone other than your own company. It was as if everyone who entered at a different time also entered into a different space and that made Ichigo uncomfortable.

Ichigo knew Orihime took this road often, since it was created by the Inter—District Messenger Service for faster deliveries. What if she was lost in a different time?

Ichigo turned to his companion when he felt silence envelop them. It was strange how it seemed the quiet ambience of the hooves now sounded much louder than when she was singing. The silence was deafening.

“You know, just because this road is dull and boring, doesn’t mean you have to be,” Maxima pouted. Ichigo forced a laugh as he slapped her lightly on the forehead, leaning off his horse slightly.

“Boring huh?” He said with a chuckle but Maxima wasn’t a fool. She stared at him with concern and that was enough for Ichigo to succumb. “This road bothers me.”

“It’s not just that.” Maxima said as she forced her white mare to a stop. Their oil lamp was flickering again so she reached to the side of her saddle and produced a large glass decanter. It was filled with a viscous pale yellow liquid which could have passed for urine had it not been for its consistency. She handed the decanter over to Ichigo, who removed the oil lamp that had been hanging above attached to a rod on his black stallion’s saddle. Startled by the sudden dimming as Ichigo pulled the lamp away from it’s vision, the stallion halted suddenly and Maxima quickly leaned over to stroke the bristly black mane.

Once the lamp was refilled and brightened, Ichigo quickly placed it back on the rod and the pair journeyed onward.

Although there was only silence between them, Ichigo could feel that Maxima was still waiting for an explanation. He knew that if he didn’t tell her now, she would find out later.